Std 10 English Unit - 8 Our Feathered friends Questions Answers

Std 10 English 

Unit - 8 Our Feathered friends  

Questions Answers 

 Read the extract and answer the question. 

(1) It is a fresh and pleasant morning. Birds

are chirping and the wind is cool and calm. Shubhangi, with her family, is having tea and breakfast in their garden. Devangi, Shubhangi's sister Mitra's friend, has come to stay for a couple of days. Devangi is a student of second year zoology in M. S. University, Vadodara. Shubhangi, fascinated by the call of a bird exclaims, 'What a beautiful sparrow it is! Devangi promptly corrects her, "My dear, it is not a sparrow. It is a tailor bird. See its colour is yellowish green and it is smaller than a sparrow,"

Shubhangi You are right, didi. But the day before yesterday when

I saw it, its colour was rust.

Devangi: Look, Shubhu, this one is a male and the rust was a female. 

1. What is Shubhangi doing in the garden?

Ans. Shubhangi is having tea and breakfast with her family in the garden.

2. Describe the atmosphere.

Ans. The morning is fresh and pleasant, birds are chirping and the wind is cool and calm.

3. Who is Devangi?

Ans. Devangi is Shubhangi's sister's friend.

4. What does Devangi study? Where? 

Ans. Devangi studies zoology in the M.S. University in Vadodara.

5. What does Devangi tell Shubhangi about the tailor bird?

Ans. Devangi tells Shubhangi that the tailor bird is yellowish green in colour and is smaller than a sparrow.

6. What does Devangi tell Shubhangi about the tailor bird's colour?

Ans, Devangi tells Shubhangi that the male tailor bird is yellowis green in colour and the female is rust in colour.

(2) Shubhangi : Why is it so? I have observed the female in almost all the species is dull in comparison with the male.

Devangi: It seems that you have keen interest in birds.

Shubhangi : Oh yes, didi. See, Mitra didi is always busy with her projects. Will you, please, tell me more about birds?

Ato Devangi: It is my interest and not Mitra's I will be happy to talk about birds. Mitra, will you, please, bring a book I from my bag titled 'Birds of India' by Salim Ali ?

1. Who has a keen interest in birds? 

Ans. Shubhangi has a keen interest in birds.

2. The female in all the species is........... Ans. The female in all the species is dull in comparison with the male.

3. Name the book written by Salim Ali. Ans. Birds of India. 

4. What did Shubhangi want to know

from Devangi? 

Ans. Shubhangi wanted to know about birds from Devangi.

(3) Devangi: Listen, Shubhangi, there are jungle birds, water birds and birds that live near human habitats. This tailor bird is a bird of our surrounding. It stitches its nest with green leaves and fibres of trees. That's why it is called a tailor bird. Shubhangi . That's great! But why do the female and the male have different colours? We have same colours.

Devangi : Oye chulbul! There are two

major types of birds: birds of prey and small birds. Birds ofprey hunt small birds for food. The female bird should be dull to hide itself from hunters as it is supposed to continue generations.

Shubhangi : Wonderful! What a design of Nature !

1. What are the different kinds of birds? Ans. The different kinds of birds are: jungle birds, water birds and birds that live near human habitats.

2. Which bird is a bird of our surrounding? Ans. The tailor bird is a bird of our

surrounding.

3. The tailor bird stitches its nest...........

Ans. The tailor bird stitches its nest with green leaves and fibres of trees.

4. How does the tailor bird get its name?

Ans. The tailor bird stitches its nest with green leaves and fibres of trees and so it is called a tailor bird.

5. Name the two major types of birds. Ans.The two major types of birds are: birds of prey and small birds.

6. What do the birds of prey do? 

Ans.The birds of prey hunt small birds for food.

7. Why is the female bird dull in colour? Ans. The female bird is dull in colour so that it can hide itself from hunters as it is supposed to continue generations.

(4) Devangi : Birding is my passion, Mitra. Look, Shubhangi! Here is a picture of a tailor bird's nest.

Shubbangi : Wow! It's cool.

Devangi: Let's talk about another interesting bird. Look this is the Indian Grey Hornbill. This bird is common in the Indian subcontinent. It has grey feathers all over the body with light grey and dull belly.

Shubhangi : Yup didi, Where does it live? Devangi: Its habitat is both in the wild as well as urban areas, especially large trees.

1. What is Devangi passionate about? 

Ans. Devangi is passionate about birding.

2. Where is the Indian Grey Hornbill usually found? 

Ans. The Indian Grey Hornbill is usually

found in the Indian subcontinent.

3. Describe the Grey Hornbill.

Ans. The Grey Hornbill has grey feathers all over the body with light grey and dull belly.

4. Where does the Grey Hornbill live? 

Ans. The Grey Hornbill lives in large trees in both the wild as well as urban areas.

(5) Shubhangi: Its beak is quite strange, isn't it?

Devangi Yes, dear. Its beak or bill has an extra portion like a horn and that's why it is called hornbill. One more interesting thing is that it nests in hollows of tall trees. The female enters the nest hollow and seals it by the using mud-pellets supplied by the male. The male takes care of the female and its new-born chicks. It supplies food to the mother and chicks.

Shubhangi : What a caring dude!

Devangi: Such a difficult task to feed the whole family! For the whole day, it has to collect food. For its caring behaviour for female, it is called vahu ghelo in some areas of our state, meaning one who takes extra care of his wife.

1. How does the hornbill get its name? Ans.The hornbill's beak or bill has an extra portion like a horn and so it is called hornbill.

2. Where does the hornbill build its nest? Ans.The hornbill builds its nest in the hollows of tall trees.

3. What does the female hornbill do? Ans.The female hornbill enters the nest hollow and seals it by the using mud-pellets supplied by the male.

4. What does the male hornbill do? 

Ans. The male hornbill takes care of the female and its new-born chicks by

supplying food to them. 

5. What does Shubhangi call the male

hornbill?

Ans. Shubhangi calls the male hornbill 'a caring dude'.

(6) Shubhangi: When I visited my friend Nazmin's home in the Polo forest, I saw many nests of weaver birds on babool trees. So beautiful ! How do they build their nest?

Devangi: Look at this picture in the book. It is a weaver bird. The bird is known as sughari in Gujarati, meaning one who builds a beautiful house. Almighty has gifted us different skills and the weaver bird is gifted with the skill of weaving its nests. Weaver birds prefer long thread-like grass leaves to build their nests.

1. Where does Nazmin live? 

Ans. Nazmin lives in the Polo

forest.

2. What did Shubhangi see in the Polo forest?

Ans. Shubhangi saw many nests of weaver

birds on babool trees in the Polo forest.

3. What is the weaver bird called in Gujarati ?

Ans. The weaver bird is called sughari

in Gujarati.

4. Sughari means...

Ans. Sughari means one who builds a beautiful house..

5. Which skill is the weaver bird gifted with?

Ans. The weaver bird is gifted with the skill of weaving its nest.

6. What does the weaver bird use to weave its nest?

Ans. The weaver bird uses long thread like grass leaves to build its nest.

(7) Shubhangi: Didi, who builds a nest, the male bird or the female bird?

Devangi: Male weaver birds build nests. It takes nearly 18 days to complete nest building. When the nest is half completed, the male invites the female for pairing by its song. If she accepts the nest, both of them finish the nest. If she doesn't, the nest is abandoned.

Shubhangi: Then it must be very difficult for the male to build more than one nests.

Devangi Yes, absolutely right. A male often makes many nests during the nesting season.

1. Who builds the weaver bird's nest? 

Ans. A male weaver bird builds its nest.

2. How long does it take to complete the nest?

Ans. It takes nearly 18 days to complete the nest.

3. What does the male do when the nest is half-completed?

Ans. When the nest is half completed, the male invites the female for pairing by its song.

4. If the female weaver bird accepts the

nest, 

Ans. If the female weaver bird accepts the nest, both of them complete the nest.

5. What happens if the female weaver bird does not accept the nest?

Ans. If the female weaver bird does not accept the nest, it is abandoned Team 

6. A male often makes.......

Ans. A male often makes many nests during the nesting season.

(8) Devangi : Shubhangi, the birds are not only our friends, but they also help us in many ways. You know the vulture. Generally people do not like vultures as they eat carcasses or dead animals. But they are called scavengers as they clean our surrounding by eating the rotten dead bodies. Observe its beak in the picture. It is designed to tear the flesh from dead bodies.

Shubhangi Yes, the curve of the beak is very sharp. Didi, 1 have not seen any vulture soaring in the sky for last so many months. What is the reason?

Devangi: At present people use medicine to cure sick cattle. When that cattle dies, vulture eats its body. Diclofenac is very harmful for the vulture, After eating such flesh, it slowly dies within a few days. Nearly 97% of vulture population is lost.

1. People do not like vultures because

Ans. People do not like vultures because they eat carcasses or dead animals.

2. Why are vultures called scavengers ?

Ans. Vultures are called scavengers because they clean our surrounding by eating the rotten dead bodies.

3. The beak of the vulture.......... 

Ans. The beak of the vulture is designed to tear the flesh from dead bodies.

4. Why are vultures not seen in the sky? Ans. People use a medicine called diclofenac to cure sick cattle and when these cattle die, the vultures. feed on them and die within a few days as diclofenac is very harmful to them.

(9) Shubhangi: It simply means that we. the human beings, are very selfish. We do not care for other living beings on the earth. Why are we not doing anything to save the birds? How can we help the birds?

Devangi: You can offer grains and water to birds. Nowadays, we get to see very few sparrows, right? Where have they gone?

1. What does Shubhangi say about human beings?

Ans. Shubhangi says that human beings are very selfish because they do not care for other living beings on the earth.

2. How can we help the birds? 

Ans. We can help the birds by offering them grains and water.

3. Which birds are nowadays not to be seen?

Ans. The sparrows are not to be seen.

nowadays.

(10) Devangi: They have left us because we

have destroyed their homes.

Shubhangi: How? I haven't done that

mischief.

rodeDevangi: No, sweetheart. Actually we have designed our houses in such a way that the birds cannot enter into the house. We do not allow them to nest in our premises. They feel safe living with us. That's why we call them the house sparrows.

Shubhangi: Well, I want them back and I am sure my friends will also help me.

Devangi : Ok. You can prepare sparrow nests with the help of cardboard boxes. Do not feed birds ganthiyas, as it is very harmful to their stomach. Put some grains like rice, millet etc. and water in a dish.

1. Why have the sparrows left us? 

Ans. The sparrows have left us because we have destroyed their homes.

2. We have designed our houses in such a way that ..........

Ans. We have designed our houses in such a way that the birds cannot enter into the house and make nests.

3. The house sparrows feel safe .......... Ans. The house sparrows feel safe living with us.

4. What does Devangi ask Shubhangi to

prepare?

Ans. Devangi asks Shubhangi to prepare sparrow nests with the help of cardboard boxes. 

5. What should we offer to the birds ?

Ans. We should offer grains like rice and millet and some water in a dish to the birds.

6. We should not feed ganthiyas to the birds because.......... 

Ans. We should not feed ganthiyas to

the birds because it is harmful to

their stomach. 

(11) Shubhangi: Please tell me about migratory birds.

Devangi: Well Shubhu, every year we have thousands of birds as our guests from Europe, Siberia and other cold countries. Birds like pelicans, cranes, various ducks and ros pastors travel thousands of kilometres to fly to India.

Shubhangi: Rosy pastor! This name sounds sweet. What is that?

Devangi: It is a bird like our myna. Rosy pastor is vaiya in Gujarati. Its colour is dull brown and pink.

Shubhangi: It is the same one I see. during winter, flying in the flock.

Devangi: Good observation. This bird arrives in India in June/ July from Europe and returns in March / April.

1. What are migratory birds ? 

Ans.Birds that travel to India every year from other cold countries are called migratory birds.

2. From where do the migratory birds come ? 

Ans. Migratory birds come from Europe,

Siberia and other cold countries. 

3. Name some migratory birds that come to India.

Ans. Some migratory birds that come to India are pelicans, cranes, various ducks and rosy pastors.

4. What is the rosy pastor called Gujarati ?

Ans. The rosy pastor is called vaiya in

Gujarati.

5. What colour is the rosy pastor ? 

Ans. The rosy pastor is dull brown and prilima pink.

6. When does the rosy pastor arrive in India? When does it return?

Ans. The rosy pastor arrives in India in June /July from Europe and returns in March April.

(12) Shubhangi : How do they travel without any map?

mirim Devangi: They take help of the sun to find their way. While they come, they travel in the early morning and during return migration they fly in the evening.

Shubhangi: Do they all use the same  pattern for migration ?

Devangi: Of course not. Migratory birds fly in different patterns. Birds like cranes, ducks and geese fly in a formation of 'V' shape. Certain ducks, warblers and flycatchers travel in groups.

1. How do the migratory birds travel without any map? 

Ans. The migratory birds take help of the sun to find their way. 

2. When the migratory birds come, they  travel ..........

Ans. When the migratory birds come, they travel in the early morning. 

3. When the migratory birds go, they fly

Ans. When the migratory birds go, they

fly in the evening. 

4. In which pattern do cranes and geese

fly?

Ans.Cranes and geese fly in a V shape

formation.

5. Which birds travel in groups ?

Ans.Certain ducks, warblers and flycatchers travel in groups.

(13) Shubhangi : Oh god! How can I remember all the details?

Devangi: That's easy. Remember these steps while birding.

1. See the colour of the bird 2. Observe its size.

3. Notice the shape and length of the bill and tail.

4. Place of sight like perched on a tree or wire, in water body, open ground, grassland or sky.

Apart from these tips, you can give your close friend's name to that bird whose nature or any characteristic matches with the friend.

 

1. What things should you observe while

birding ?

Ans. While birding, we should observe the colour and size of the bird, the shape and length of its bill and tail and where it is perched.

2. You can give your close friend's name

to that bird .......... 

Ans. You can give your close friend's name to that bird whose nature or any characteristic matches with the friend.

(14) Mitra: Remember, Shubhu! We need birds on the earth as they eat up insects harmful to our crops. They are also helpful in spreading of seeds. They entertain us with their sweet calls. Take care of birds; they are the true indicators of a healthy environment.

1. How are birds useful to us? 

Ans. Birds eat up insects that are harmful to our crops, spread seeds and entertain us with their sweet calls.

2. Birds are the true indicators of 

Ans. Birds are the true indicators of a

healthy environment.